Vehicle air-spring.



RK LIEBAU.

VEHICLE AIR SPRING.

nwucAUoN 11110111115 3.1913

1,179,198, 111111111911 Apr. 11, 111111.

3 SHEETS--SHLET 2 /NVENTOR W; HIS ATTCZ'N-V IN FACT ciition and inns f ST'TES 39A 'FFC/E.

RICHARD LIEBAU, OF SXVSSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSXGNDR- TO WESTINGHOUSE AIR SERNG CGMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

VEHICLE Ain-SPRING.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patent-ed Apr. 11, 1916.

To all whom Zt may eminem Be it known that l, RICHARD LIEBAU, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Swissvule, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvanie, have made a new and useful invention. in Vehicle Air- Springs, of which the following is a specilicetion. A

This invention relates to 'vehiclesnspension and more particularly to spring suspension for vehicles such as automobiles, motor trucks, motor buses, delivery wegons, etc.

A number ot applications `for patent lieve been filed me for elastic cushion devices and e number have been filed by George Vxfestingliouse littslnugli, Pennsylvania, and this invention 'more pertieularly relates to ineens fore utilizing such cushion devices (hereinafter reterrc te es air springs) on the ieer of motor vehicles, such as trucks and buses. .ln using such :tir spr'ngs on motor vehicles such ns automobiles it has been` customary to utilize 'four air springs, one on each corner oi the chassis, connected up with one end o? erich of the four steel springs so as to operate in therewith. It hns been found, however, that owing to the tendency et top heavy vehicles, such as trucks. to leen oi. tip :wise under certain circumstances, @specnlly when rounding' corners, it io utilize but one nir spring; in the rear ff suoli vehicles si, to couple the saine up to the. rear ends of the two rear steel spi". to a certain este nient of said spr j l have devised tile specification tonni :uit of this appli the drawings ec conipnnying the saine :1nd thi'ouglwnt which like elemente are oecd hy like character In the drewin Figure 1 is :i view perspective loolrinh toward the rear of .ft portion of n. motor truck frame and the two roer steel springs with my invention shown in plm-c; Fig. 2 e. side elevation of a porA tion of the ,motor truck; Lind Fig. 3 is a view in end elevation ofthe same.

The frames or load platforms of the motor trucks are gens-.rally provided with two channel sections Il find 5 forming the lcnjfiA tndinel' side members ot the chassis. To

each of members a depending bearing frame 6 is bolted as at 7. These beerinff frames are also preferably bolted to a cross member S which may be a part of the chassis. A rock bar 9, journaled in suitable bearings 10 formed in the bearing members (i, is provided with lever arms 11 and l2 to the outer ends of which therein? t the leef springs 13 and 14 of the :i connected by means of links 15. air spring 16, such as described in any of my seid applications or the rapplications of seid ll'estinghouse, is rigidly bolted to cross lfneinber 'S by means of bolts 17 and provided with a relatively movable telescopic member 18. Rock bar 9 is provided with er firms 19, one of which lies on euch sin of the air spring, and the outer ends of which are connected by means of links to the bottom of trnnnions 21 secured to the bottoni of movable member 18.

From this construction it will be seen that while the two steel springs 13 and 14 operate in parallel to support the load platform, the air spring works in series with the two steel springs end adds its additional spring' movement thereto.

1f' beth oi' the rear wheels of the vehicle pass over substantially equal obstructions or de? 'essions the full movement of the steel rings i. spring can be utilized, but by coup-l; 11 two steel springs to the Y r1 'l e' t'irongb, the link :mo lover cong ii deoendent inovement of the of the vehicle is prevented.

i with the provisions of the l. have described the prim n of my invcntit'in together nich l now f'onsidcr to nbodifnent thereof, but Hood that thc de enly illnsn'zvtive and that the :on ein ne carried ont in other ways. thais described my invention, what i L'Omliinition with tlm loud plntt'orm x ne of :i vehicle, und the lealA Springs :ged on opposite sides ol said vehicle, :l pneumatic spring con'iprisingg two relutively movable members., one of which is rig-idly secured to the freine ot tbc vehicle. n roel( bnr xtemlingy; transvcrselyv across the ici" of the vehicle und jollrnzllc-fl on the inline, e. lever mounted on the bnr :1nd pivotaily connected to the other member ol'v louy said pneumatic spring, lever arms located at each end of said bar and links for connecting said arms to said leaf springs.

2. In combination with the load platform of a vehicle and a leaf` spring located at one side of the platform and between the platform and the running gear, a pneumatic spring comprising two relatively movable members, one of which is rigidly secured to the platform, a rock bar extending transversely ofA the platform and journaled thereon, a lever mounted on the bar, a pivotal connection between the other member of the pneumatic spring and said lever, and a lever arm and link for connecting said leafspring to said rock bar.

3. In a vehicle `in combination with its frame and leaf springs arranged on opposite sides thereof, a rock bar or shaft extending laterally of said` vehicle, members depending from said frame in which said shaft is journaled, a telescopic air spring,

' one member of which is rigidly secured to the frame at an intermediate position with relation to the leaf springs, and links and levers for connecting the other member of said air spring and said leaf springs to said shaft so that said air spring will operate in series with said two leaf springs.

4. In combination with the frame and the leaf springs of a vehicle, a rock bar journaled on the frame, separate levers mounted on the bar and coupled to each leaf spring, an air spring having one member rigidly mounted on the frame of the vehicle, a second set of levers rigidly mounted on the rock bar and projecting in substantially the same directionas the first mentioned levers, and links for coupling the last mentioned levers to the air spring.

5. In combination with the frame of a. vehicle and the leaf springs arranged on opposite sides thereof, a rock bar journaled on and extending transversely of the frame, forwardly extending levers rigidly mounted on the rock bar and coupled to the leaf springs, an air spring comprising two telescopic and relatively movable members, one of which is rigidly mounted on the frame, and a forwardly projecting lever rigidly mounted on the bar and coupled to the other member of the air spring.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of May, 1913.

RICHARD LIEBAU.

Witnesses:

C. W. MCGHEE, ANNA CLoHEn'rY. 

